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Ron Francis      

Francis was drafted in the 1st Round, 4th overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.

Francis was drafted in the 1st Round, 4th overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. Francis was a model of consistency, averaging more than a point a game in over 1700 games in 23 seasons. His three Lady Byng Trophies attest to his gentlemanly conduct on and off the ice. Francis stands second all-time in career assists behind Wayne Gretzky with 1,249, fourth in career points (1,798), third in games played (1,731), and twenty-first in career goals (549).

Francis was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 with Ulf Samuelsson for Zarley Zalapski and John Cullen; his trade from the Whalers to the Penguins was considered a coup for Pittsburgh, where he centred a formidable second line behind Mario Lemieux's first line. Francis returned to his original organization as a free agent for 1998-99, signing with the Carolina Hurricanes, and captained the Hurricanes to the 2002 Stanley Cup final where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings. Francis finished his career with a brief stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, traded there by the Hurricanes in March 2004 to allow him one last run at the Stanley Cup. He retired from the NHL before the 2005-06 season and assumed a position with the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association.

He won 2 Stanley Cups, the first in 1990-91 and the following season in 1991-92 with Pittsburgh. His best season was 1995-96 when he had 119 points; that season, he led the league in assists with 92. The previous season, he also led the league in assists with 48 over the strike-shortened half-season schedule. His Whalers number #10 was raised at the Hartford Civic Center on January 6, 2006 (though not officially retired, the Whalers organization no longer existing to retire it) and his Hurricanes #10 jersey was retired by the Carolina organization on January 28, 2006.

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Ron Francis takes over as Hurricanes GM - Yahoo Sports
New Carolina Hurricanes general manager, Ron Francis, left, team owner Peter Karmanos, center, and former general manager Jim Rutherford announce a ...
Canes GM Ron Francis takes on new challenge | Carolina ...
Ron Francis had a Hall of Fame playing career in the NHL, twice winning the Stanley Cup. But can Francis do it as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes?
Carolina Hurricanes: Ron Francis takes charge of Canes' draft ...
NHL draft: Carolina Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis is the Canes' “ point person” in Friday's NHL draft. The Hurricanes have the No. 7 pick and could  ...

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